Alchemist bombs damage type

[Lobolusk]

In our weekly game we have an alchemist and every time we come across a monster with any type of dr or magic resistance our DM panics (poor guy) and is confused about what type of damage the Bombs do.

I think they do energy type right? just plain old fire damage?

how about an golem with magic resistance?

what type of damage does an alchemist fire bomb do? how about an Ice Bomb or a madness bomb?

[BYC]

From APG:

Quote:

On a direct hit, an alchemist's bomb inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage + additional damage equal to the alchemist's Intelligence modifier. The damage of an alchemist's bomb increases by 1d6 points at every odd-numbered alchemist level (this bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit or by using feats such as Vital Strike). Splash damage from an alchemist bomb is always equal to the bomb's minimum damage (so if the bomb would deal 2d6+4 points of fire damage on a direct hit, its splash damage would be 6 points of fire damage). Those caught in the splash damage can attempt a Reflex save for half damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the alchemist's level + the alchemist's Intelligence modifier.

Fire is an energy type.

Bomb is a Supernatural ability.

The discoveries will answer your questions on those.

Read the APG's section on bombs again. It'll answer these basic questions.

[Lobolusk]

if it is a supernatural ability, does Magic resistance apply?

[Gorbacz]

There's no "magic resistance" in Pathfinder. You're talking either about energy resistance or spell resistance, and the answer is different for either of those (ER: yes, SR: no vs. Supernatural abilities).

[Lobolusk]

how about golems being immune to magic?

[Golarion Goblin]

Lobolusk wrote:

how about golems being immune to magic?

Golems are immune to spells and spell-like abilites. Bombs do not emulate spells, and therefore golems are not immune to them.

[Lobolusk]

so bombs are a supernatural ability and they only do energy damage ( in general) so if you have energy resistance it negates some of the bombs damage but besides that they by pass all other dr? correct?

[Christopher Woldridge]

Yes, for box standard bombs they do fire damage and fire resistance will stop some of the damage. Discoveries can change the damage to sonic, cold, force, acid and then you would need a different resistance.

[Hoardling]

The question about the golem is, an iron golem is immune to magic, but it has a special ability when a magical attack does fire damage the damage heals it. So the question is does an alchemist bomb also heal it?
Now, the Advanced players handbook says: "In addition to magical extracts, alchemists are adept at swiftly mixing various volatile chemicals and infusing them with their magical reserves to create powerful bombs that they can hurl at their enemies. So if they are using magical reserves then the bombs are magical, so the fire damage would be magical? It maybe a supernatural ability, but it is still magical, and the iron golem is immune to magic. So wouldn't bombs be considered magic for SR also, due to them being infused with magical reserves, thus they are a magical component, they maybe supernatural, but they are still imbued by magic?

[Sleet Storm]

It's not about them being magical or not.Pathfinder (or any D20 system) has specific key words to differentiate between abilities.

Only spells and spell-like abilities are affected by spellresistance and similar effects(like a constructs magic immunity).Supernatural abilities are not. It's that simple.

If you want to know what type an ability is look for the two letters in brackets next to its name: (Su)supernatural, (Sp)spell-like and (Ex) extraordinary.